Stark raving mad


Totally crazy, as in The constant uncertainty over his job is making him stark raving mad. This term, meaning “completely wildly insane,” is used both hyperbolically and literally. Versions of this expression appear to have sprung from the minds of great literary figures. Stark mad was first recorded by poet John Skelton in 1489; stark raving was first recorded by playwright John Beaumont in 1648; stark staring mad was first used by John Dryden in 1693. The current wording, stark raving mad, first appeared in Henry Fielding’s The Intriguing Chambermaid in 1734.

Read Also:

  • Starkville

    noun 1. a town in E Mississippi.

  • Starless

    noun 1. any of the heavenly bodies, except the moon, appearing as fixed luminous points in the sky at night. 2. Astronomy. any of the large, self-luminous, heavenly bodies, as the sun, Polaris, etc. 3. any heavenly body. 4. Astrology. a heavenly body, especially a planet, considered as influencing humankind and events. 5. a person’s […]

  • Starlet

    noun 1. a young actress promoted and publicized as a future star, especially in motion pictures. 2. a small star or other heavenly body. noun 1. a young and inexperienced actress who is projected as a potential star 2. a small star

  • Starlight

    noun 1. the light emanating from the stars. noun 1. the light emanating from the stars adjective 2. of or like starlight 3. Also starlit (ˈstɑːˌlɪt). illuminated by starlight

  • Starlike

    adjective 1. of the shape of or like a star. 2. shining like a star. 3. Also, star-shaped. Mathematics. (of a set with respect to a point) having the property that the line segment connecting a given point and any other point in a region lies completely within the region.


Disclaimer: Stark raving mad definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.